Birthday special: Marlon Samuels – West Indies’ T20 World Cup specialist

Marlon Samuels, the former West Indies batting all-rounder, was born on February 5, 1981 in Kingston, Jamaica. Having made his debut for West Indies in 2000, Marlon went on to play international cricket till 2018. Through the years, there were several controversies which he was a part of, but there is more for which he would be remembered in the years to come.

He is the only player who has won two man of the match awards in the final of an ICC event. In 2012, during the ICC World T20 final in Colombo, West Indies found themselves in a desperate situation at 38 for 3 after 11 overs. What followed was one of the best counter-attacks that anyone has seen. He ended up scoring 78 runs off 56 balls. Then, he bowled a spell of 1 for 15, which helped his side win their first T20 World Cup.

Four years later, he was there once again trying to help West Indies recover in the final against England in Kolkata at the 2016 ICC World T20 Final. His match-winning knock of 85 runs off 66 balls, kept his side in the match before Carlos Braithwaite came and gave everyone a reason to ‘remember his name.’

West Indies were 14/2 after the Powerplay and 32/2 in 10 overs in the 2012 @T20WorldCup final.

Then Marlon Samuels happened ?

Is this the best T20I innings ever? ? pic.twitter.com/KVmILSrA5b

— ICC (@ICC) October 7, 2020

Samuels also holds the record for being involved in the highest ever partnership in ODIs. He and his fellow countryman, Chris Gayle had a partnership of 372 runs in the 2015 ICC World Cup game against Zimbabwe.

Through his career, he went through a lot of ups and downs and had a few off the field issues. His on-field conduct was also questioned several times but his performance kept him relevant for as late as 2018. He played 71 Tests scoring 3917 runs at an average of 32.64. He scored seven Test tons along with 24 fifties.

In 207 ODIs, Samuels scored 5606 runs with an average of 32.97. He had managed 10 centuries and 30 fifties. He also scored 1611 runs in 67 T20Is, including 10 fifties. Even though his average is underwhelming, he was known as one of the most impactful players in the Caribbean team, when they went through a complete transition. Marlon was an effective bowler as well. He picked up 41, 89 and 22 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively.

As Marlon Samuels turns 40, we wish him a very happy birthday. He retired from all forms of professional cricket in 2020 after almost a year and half of going without representing the West Indies.